| Home | My Account | Directories |
Optimum Health and Wellness Digest - Fall 2012
Published on 2012-10-03 09:31:09
At Optimum Integrative, we are pleased to release the first edition of our quarterly publication, Optimum Health and Wellness Digest! Within its pages you will find articles written by our naturopathic doctors, seasonal healthy recipes, a spotlight on local eating, coming events, natural health news, and much more! Click the image to download your copy: *Note: Right click and choose 'Save Link As' to download a copy This this Issue: Organic Food: Healthy or Hoax - is organic food ev [..]
Naturopathic Medicine: Whole Practice Integrative Medicine
Published on 2012-10-02 13:26:05
Tolle Totum – treat the whole person – is a guiding principle in naturopathic medicine. It understands that our bodies are supremely complicated, and that how we exist today is not incidental, but actually a cumulative effect of our entire life experience. But our medical system is pragmatic and reductionistic. In life and death situations, this is a very good thing. It allows core issues to be logically identified and corrected, which is lifesaving in an emergency. But most of li [..]
Preventing Vitamin D Deficiency this Winter
Published on 2012-09-27 11:47:11
In the northerly latitudes around the world, people are already starting to gear up for the inevitable: winter. As our ‘to-do’ lists materialize to include the dreaded perennial tasks of cleaning gutters, raking leaves, storing patio furniture, and topping off the wood shed, we are oblivious to a tiny sunshine dependent chemical compound that also requires some timely attention. Because as the days grow shorter, colder, and darker, there is less sun exposure, and we spend more time hiber [..]
Organic Food: Healthy or Hoax?
Published on 2012-09-24 08:45:23
Is organic food healthier? A recent report from Stanford University, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has made it a point of controversy. The report, titled “Are Organic Foods Safer and Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives?” concluded that there is a lack of evidence to support that “organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods,” despite finding that consumption of organic foods “may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-r [..]
7 Superfoods for Your Fall Menu
Published on 2012-09-17 10:58:13
The harvest is in full swing, and with it thoughts of warm, hearty, comforting foods and holiday indulgences are starting to emerge. Apple and pumpkin pies and slow-cooked hearty stews start replacing fresh green salads and heaping bowls of berries. Often, the diet of fall and winter tends to be low in nutrients and high in unhealthy fats and refined carbohydrates. This is because our bodies still believe it is time to go into storage mode so that we can get through the harsh winter months [..]
Natural Approaches to Arthritic Conditions
Published on 2012-09-10 11:57:03
Over 70% of people over the age of 65 have one form of arthritis or another. This lecture discusses what inflammation is, and goes in to detail about the three most common types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Many treatment options exist to prevent inflammation, relieve pain, and improve joint function without side effects. Learn whether natural medicine may help to improve your joint health! Click to download a copy of our Natural Approaches to Arthritis Lec [..]
One Year Anniversary
Published on 2012-09-06 13:03:51
Today, September 6, 2012, we celebrate the one year anniversary of Optimum Integrative Health Centre opening its doors to the people of Fergus Ontario, and the greater Centre Wellington County! Over the past year we have enjoyed serving the health needs of many, and interacting with the community through health presentations and lectures. Thank you to all who have helped us come so far in just one year. We look forward to another year of continued growth, and are excited to be doing our pa [..]
Post Workout Muscle Recovery
Published on 2012-08-14 11:42:43
Exercise is (or at least should be!) synonymous with good health. We do it to improve our physical being by preventing chronic disease and optimizing our bodily function. For many of us, exercise is a task in constantly setting the bar higher: to run faster, paddle harder, or lift more weight. We reach for the latest and greatest ‘things’ to help us achieve our goals faster. But the sports nutrition industry is an ugly monster. This shape shifting giant is ready and eager to sell [..]
The Aging Brain
Published on 2012-06-14 08:22:58
The brain is not a rigid, unchanging structure, as it was once believed. Even as we age, our brain has the ability to adapt and change. In order to prevent or minimize damage from the aging process, new science is laying out guidelines for optimizing brain health. This lecture discusses the day-to-day activities we should all strive for, in order to protect our cognitive function in the long run. Like a muscle, the brain must be exercised in order to stay strong! Click to download a co [..]
Nutrition Check-Up
Published on 2012-06-01 08:20:27
With all of the nutritional information circulating around, sometimes the basics of nutrition get lost in the details. Here, we remind you of the fundamentals of nutrition, namely protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Next, we apply these fundamentals to actual food, discussing which foods should be sought out, and which should be avoided, in order to promote the healthiest nutrition possible. Click to download a copy of our Nutrition Check-Up Lecture: *Note: Right click and choose 'Save Li [..]
Open House and Grand Opening
Published on 2012-05-01 09:09:54
Optimum Integrative Open House Please join us during Naturopathic Medicine Week for the Open House of Optimum Integrative Health Centre, in Fergus Ontario! The event will be held on May 12, 2012 from 10am - 2pm. We look forward to seeing you there!! Free BBQ Free Samples Door Prizes Clinic Tours and MORE! Please RSVP by clicking on the image below!
Milk, it does a Body Good, Right?
Published on 2012-04-24 09:04:37
Thanks to the brilliant marketing of the dairy industry, milk has become synonymous with growing up and staying healthy. It was once (and in many ways, still is) considered the healthiest food in nature. We hold it so closely to our hearts that even now, with considerable nutritional research surrounding dairy, it is a hot button topic. The dairy industry does such a good job of shielding the general population from negative press that most people are totally unaware of what academic nutri [..]
Post-Exercise Chocolate Milk: Is it really the Best Option?
Published on 2012-04-23 12:57:38
If you watch TV, you have surely seen the “Recharge with Milk” commercial ad campaign, started by the Diary Farmers of Canada. If you are unsure what I am talking about, see the clip below. The ads are built around studies that show chocolate milk provides the body with the ideal components to “rehydrate,” “refuel,” and “recharge” after exercise. In fact, post-exercise chocolate milk has become rather popular in the past few years, on the backs of celebrity endorsers, such [..]
Tips to Avoid Dehydration this Summer
Published on 2012-04-17 10:11:00
The days are growing longer, and the weather is becoming progressively warmer. With the winter hibernation coming to a close for another year, many people are crawling out of their indoor caves, and spending more time outside. There is an undeniable association between the warmth of the sun and our desire to be active. We all know however, that when we increase our physical activity, especially as the temperature rises, our bodily demands for fluids also increase. But are we doing enoug [..]
Healthy Approaches to Weight Loss
Published on 2012-03-26 13:30:16
Weight loss is quickly becoming the most common health goal that people have. Unfortunately, we all too often seek simple and unrealistic weight loss strategies. This lecture discusses the downfalls of fad dieting, and gives suggestions that equate to health and permanent weight loss. Click to download a copy of our Healthy Approaches to Weight Loss Lecture: *Note: Right click and choose 'Save Link As' to download a copy Download a copy of the lecture notes here. Ha [..]
Spring 2012 Lectures and Appearances
Published on 2012-03-26 13:21:42
Optimum Integrative is committed to providing exceptional health promotion to the people of Fergus and the greater Wellington County. We are pleased to announce our upcoming lecture and presentation series for Spring 2012. Check back often, as more dates become available. We hope to see you there! Achieving Healthy Weight Loss - Why Fad Diets Don't Work Victoria Park Senior’s Centre – April 2, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. (map) This seminar will discuss the evidence behind weight lo [..]
Key Factors for Healthful Aging
Published on 2012-03-05 10:55:42
Aging is an unavoidable consequence of living. This lecture discusses why aging occurs, and provides insight on how to help reduce age related ailments and energy decline through proper nutrition and other lifestyle choices. Click to download a copy of our Key Factors for Healthy Aging Lecture: *Note: Right click and choose 'Save Link As' to download a copy Download a copy of the lecture notes here. Having trouble viewing these files? Try downloading the latest version o [..]
Getting a Great Night's Sleep
Published on 2012-02-06 15:08:04
Sleep is an essential component of life, and comprises 1/3 of our entire being. As the components of our days become increasingly hectic, sleep is becoming problematic with a record number of people. With all of the stresses and stimulants in our environment, we are becoming primed to having poor sleep. This lecture first discusses what sleep really is, and then talks about what can be done to improve it. Click to download a copy of our Getting a Great Night's Sleep Lecture: *Note: Rig [..]
Clean Up Your Health: Detoxing Your Body
Published on 2012-01-23 12:47:44
A new year has arrived, and with it the strong desire to start fresh. But what about our bodies? Do they not deserve a fresh start too? We are inundated every day with chemicals, heavy metals and toxins in our water, food and environment. While we have an innate detoxification system in our bodies to deal with these toxins, we are being exposed at unprecedented rates. These toxins have been shown to accumulate in our system over time, and without adequate elimination through our liver, [..]
Firefighter Health and Wellness
Published on 2012-01-17 12:22:45
Most people associate firefighter deaths while in the line of duty with smoke inhalation, or as a results of the flame itself. In reality, the highest percentage of deaths are of cardiovascular origin. Since cardiovascular disease is preventable, and originates primarily from our diet and lifestyle, there are various changes that are necessary to mitigate the risks, and maximize health. This lecture, prepared for the Firefighters of Centre Wellington Ontario is based on minimizing obstacl [..]
Managing Chronic Pain
Published on 2012-01-09 10:53:30
Chronic pain is something that is becoming far too familiar to many of us: 1/5 have diagnosed chronic or recurring pain. But there is hope. This lecture, prepared and delivered in Fergus Ontario describes what pain really is, and discusses what can be done about it. The time to stop the vicious cycle of chronic pain is now! Click to download a copy of our Pain Management Lecture: *Note: Right click and choose 'Save Link As' to download a copy Download a copy of the lecture notes here. [..]
Holiday Stress: 5 Tips on How to Stop the Madness
Published on 2011-12-08 14:10:08
The holidays have arrived, and with them the inevitable sense of stress and panic; so much to do, so many places to be and not nearly enough time. Between shopping, parties, lines and travelling, it’s no wonder our cortisol levels go through the roof. But the holidays don’t have to be a seasonal panic attack. With a bit of planning and taking time to actually enjoy them, it is possible to regain a bit of sanity this December. Get a Good Night’s Sleep Sleep is the best treatment fo [..]
Misuse of Dietary Supplements
Published on 2011-11-30 10:48:30
The topic of dietary supplementation is becoming increasingly prevalent in the media. The captions are eye grabbing, and without many exceptions, are superfluous exaggerations of the actual findings from the studies. “Vitamins May Kill You” is the caption given to a study where a slightly increased, and barely statistically significant mortality is linked to vitamin usage, only after researchers manipulated the data to account for the variables they thought were important. Now, do not [..]
Eating Healthy Over the Holidays
Published on 2011-11-29 14:19:45
The holiday season has officially arrived, and with it the constant sight of cookies, candies, cakes and chocolate. Every weekend includes a party, a get together, or pot luck, all with the promise of delicious and delectable treats and guaranteed over-indulgence. It’s almost impossible to think of the holidays as a time for healthy eating. But cakes, cookies and gluttony aside, traditional holiday meals are actually very nutritious. The following are five tips on how to eat healthy ov [..]
Upcoming Lectures and Appearances
Published on 2011-11-17 09:24:14
Optimum Integrative is committed to providing exceptional health promotion to the people of Fergus and the greater Wellington County. We are pleased to announce our upcoming lecture and presentation series for early 2012. Check back often, as more dates become available. We hope to see you there! It Doesn’t Have to Hurt – managing chronic pain Victoria Park Senior’s Centre – January 9, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. (map) Over 50% of people experience daily or chronic pain. Naturo [..]
Why Fad Diets Don’t Work
Published on 2011-11-03 12:59:02
Come on people—is life ever that easy? Do we really believe that all the pounds packed on from years of poor eating decisions can be overcome in a couple weeks? Unfortunately, many people gamble their health on the outrageous weight loss claims of fad diets. I get why we do it—because when we are faced with a choice between something seemingly fast and easy, and something slow and tedious—fast and easy wins every time. Our common sense has enough sense to be weary of things “too g [..]
Sugar vs. Sweetener
Published on 2011-10-31 15:27:56
As a self-admitted sugar-holic, I can’t let the day that we consume vast quantities of sugar with reckless abandon pass without commenting. With chronic disease on the rise, the debate around artificial vs. natural sweeteners continuing to rage, and the ever-increasing waistlines of our population, I thought I’d take a few minutes and attempt to dispel some of the myths around sweeteners and naturally occurring sugar.
What is Sugar?
Sugar, also known as sucrose, is both a chemically ma [..]